Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I took Hat to the doctor and she said she didn't think he had a cold or anything like that. She gave him a vitamin shot which was supposed to stimulate his appetite and told me to basically just keep him warm.

I haven't heard him sneeze since then, but he does make weird clacking noises every now and again. He has started to eat more often and when he opens his mouth and closes it to chew, he emits a snapping, clicking sort of noise. I'm not sure if this is normal or not.

Otherwise he is acting normal. I haven’t seen any bubbles come out of his nose and he hasn’t sneezed. I've kept him in his cage since he got back from the doctor in order to keep him war. I bought a new ceramic lamp which supposedly emits more/better heat than a light, but it seems colder to me (rather, I have to get my hand right up under it to feel anything). He's chomping down on shredded carrots right now, so that makes me feel a little better.

My turtles will make a sort of creaking noise when they eat.

Mine do too.

is that creaking noise normal? it sounds like wet shoes on a hardwood floor.

Mine make kind a squeaking sound, I don't know how
to exactly describe it.

But it cracks me up when I'm out in the pen and they are
all hiding and I can hear the "squeaky jaw" sound.
I know someone is chowing down on something!

I've rehabbed a lot of turtles with respiratory ailments. Many times, almost always, they develop ear abscesses. This is associated with significant swelling. Often, turtles with this swelling will make clicking and cracking noises while eating. I really think that it affects the way their jaws fit together. I've never been too concerned about it, as they are still able to eat and heal well.

There may be some slight swelling around the turtle's lower jaw. I wouldn't be too concerned, especially since the Vet seems to think that Hat is doing well. Maybe Hat was well on the way to recovery when you visited with the Vet.

Please keep us updated on little Hat.

I'm hoping that vitamin shot turned things around.
Make sure you always feed foods that are high in vitamin A such as dark leafy greens & yellow veggies.

As for the clicking/squeaking sound when they eat, I've noticed each of my boxies has a different face & they all have different shaped beaks.. it's not huge differences but no two look exactly the same. My Shell E has always been a very loud eater, lots of clicking/squeaking & actually annoying noises from her.
It's annoying to me because it's almost like listening to fingernails on a chalk board. I hate that sound! LOL

My Charity makes noise too when she eats & so does Chip but neither of them are as loud as Shell E.
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PHRatz